Switch and fuse box



W. B. LA POINTE.

SWITCH AND FUSE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JAN; 28, I920v 1 433 510 Patented Oct. 24, 1922;

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W. B. LA POINTE.

SWITCH AND FUSE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1920.

Patented Oct. 24, 192 2.

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WILLIAM B. LA POINTE, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

SWITCH AND FUSE BOX.

Ap 'llication filed January 28, 1920. Serial No. 354,703.

object is to lock such a box from being tampered with without authority.

The invention is characterized principally and generally by the featuresthat in ordinary practice its door or cover may not be opened prior tothe opening of the' circuit and the circuit may not be closed prior tothe closing of the door. Such a box conforms, I believe, to the fireinsurance underwriters requirements that the box shall be kept closedwhen the switches and fuses are in service. Such a construction alsorelieves the operator of the dangers and discomforts due to flashing.Further such a construction prevents attempts to replace a burnt fusewhen the circuit is closed.

The invention is embodied in the example herein shown and described, thefeatures of novelt being finally claimed.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a view of the box in sideelevation with the switch and door locked, the switch in open position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line.

11-11 Fig. 4 showing the door closed and locked with. the switch closed.

Fig. 3 is a section like Fig. 2 with the door opened.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation looking at the interior of the box.

Fig. 5 is a view like Fig. 1 with the door closed and locked with theswitch open.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation with the door closed and locked.

In the views 5 designates the box which has a cover 6 hinged to the topof the front. 7 7 designates the fuses which are removably held insuitable clips 8. The characters 9, 9, designate a knife switch hingedat 10. 10 joined by an insulating bar- 11. so as to move in unison onthe hinges 10, 10. The knife switch enters spring clips 10, 10 to closethe circuit. The bar 11 is provided with a loop 12. The character 13designates a lever of irregular U-form hinged'at 14 in the lower end ofthe box, said lever including the bent operating handle 14 at theexterior of the box. The upper end of the lever .13 extends through theloop 12 thereby forming a loose link connection between the lever andthe knife switch so that by swing ing the lever the switch may be openedand closed. A spring 15 (see Fig. 3) connecting the switch with thelever causes a quick throwing of the switch to open position. Asregarding the action of this: When the lever is swung outward or towardthe door the spring is placed under tension and that causes a quickwithdrawal of the switch. In closing the switch the lever compresses thespringv thereby permitting-pressure exerted with the hand on the leverto close the switch.

At the inner side of its upper end the door is provided with lug 16against which the upper end of the leverabuts when the door is opened soas to preclude the closing of the switch when the door is in thatposition. At the lower end of its inner side the door is provided with aloop 17 that is engaged by 'a hook 18 on the lever when the door isclosed, said hook preventing the opening of the door prior to movementof the lever to open the switch. The relative location of the parts issuch that the hook 18 is completely removed only when the upper end ofthe lever is in position to be engaged by the lu 16 if the door heopened, said position being that when the switch is. o ned.

' To look the switch when in either open or closed position and preventunauthorized operation thereof and also the opening of the door Iprovide a latch 19 pivoted to the handle portion of thelever 13 toengagethe switch operating lever in forward position, said latch havingat-its rear end a hook or head 19 adapted when the lever is in circuitclosing position to engage the rear side of a lug 20 on the side of thebox, as shown in Fig. 1, and when the lever is in the o n circuitposition to engage the forward s1de of said he doorat its front side hasivoted to it a latching lever 21 adapted to swung to engage lugs 22 onthe opposite sides of the box.' This latchwhen locked in engagedposition revents the opening of the door whether t e switch is open orclosed.

To look or seal the latching lever 19 in either of its two positions andthe lever 21 either the open or closed position or? the in engagedposition I provide a bar 23 sliding in a bracket 24, said bar andbracket being perforated at the proper points to receive the beep of apadlock 25 to hold said bar 23 inipos-ition to sustain the lever 19against an end of the latched lever 21 and with its headed end 19*opposed at one side or the other to the lug 20.

The line connections are made at 26 and 27.

Normally the slide 23 will not be left in locked or sealed position.

A solenoid 28 actuating an armature 29 can be installed on the side ofthe box for releasin the latching lever 19 from a distant point. Theposition of the armature can serve to indicate that the switch is to beopened or is not to be closed until the armature is raised.

The forms of the without departing from the gist of the invention asclaimed.

What T claim is:

1. A closure for an electric switch including, in combination, a box, acover therefor hinged thereto at its upper end, a switch operating meansconsisting of a U-shaped frame pivoted in the lower portion of the boxand having one arm operable externally or the box, means on said switchoperating means, on the box and on the cover to lock the cover in closedposition when the switch is either opened or closed, and means on thecover engaging said U-shaped frame to prevent the operation of theswitch operating means when the cover is opened.

2. A closure for an electric switch includ? ing, in combination, a box,a cover for the box, a switch operating means operable externally of thebox, means on said switch operating means to lock the cover in closed.

position when the switch is closed, means on the cover to prevent theoperation 015 the switch operating means when the cover is opened, andmeans-common to the switch operating means, and the cover whereby theswitch operating means may be latchedin switch and means on the doorengaged by Kit) said common means to lock the cover in its closedposition.

parts can be changed.

3. A closure for an electric switch including, in combination, a box, acover tor'the box, a switch operating device for opening and closingthe'switch, said switch operating device having means for latching thecover in its closed position, a latching lever carried by said operatingdevice, a lug on the box adapted to be latohingly engaged by said leverin either the opened or closed position of the switch, and means on thebox for looking the latching lever in either of its said two positions.

4:. A closure for an electric switch including, in combination, a box, acover for the box, latching lever 21 for the cover and catch therefor onthe box, a switch operating device for opening and closing the switch,means on said switch operating device and cover for latching the coverwhen the switch and cover are in their closed positions, a latchinglever 19 carried by said switch operating device a lug 20 on the boxadapted to be latchingly engaged by said lever 19 in either the openedor closed position of the switch, and means-23 on the box for look ingthe same in either of its said two positions and at the same timelooking the cover 7 latch 21, substantially as described,

5. A closure for an electric switch including, in combination, a box, ahinged cover for the box, means for latching the cover upon the box, aswitch operating device, means for locking the switch operating devicein the closed as well as the open position of the switch, said meansalsn adapted to lock the cover latching device 6. A closure for anelectric switch including, in combination, a box, a hinged cover for thebox, means for latching the cover upon the box, a switch operatingdevice,

.means for lockingthe switch operating device in the open position-ofthe switch, said means also adapted to lock the cover latch in device. a

T. A. closure for an electric switch including, in combination, a box, ahinged cover tor the box, a switch, a switch operating device, a lockfor the switch operating device and solenoid having an armature, to holdsaid lock disengaged.

VVTLLTAM LA PQTNTE.

